[Click donate to the right and select Tom Presti from the list of volunteers to donate to my trip]

As many of you know I traveled to Ghana last May. It was a major success. We saw over 750 patients in four days of clinic in the village of Srafa Abuano. As a part of Global Brigades efforts to create sustainable improvements, UConn will be returning to Ghana this May to provide medical care, dental care, and education in healthy living. It is unlikely that we will be returning to Srafa Abuano, where we were sent last year, since other Universities will be continuing our effort there. UConn will be more likely focusing on larger communities since our group has proven itself in gathering medications and running an efficient brigade.

UConn is just one chapter of the much larger student run organization, Global Brigades. Although our brigade will consist of only medical, dental, and public health, Global Brigades also supports water, microfinance, and law. UConn's chapter is only five years old and Global Brigades as a whole started in 2004 with brigades to Honduras. The organization now supports a variety of brigades to cooperating communities in Honduras, Panama, Ghana, and soon Nicaragua. Chapters are located at most major Universities in the United States as well as in the UK, Canada, and Ireland.

My job as a student will be to assist the medical professionals by making the process more efficient. Jobs can include working in triage, assisting doctors, assisting the pharmacist by organizing medicine, and educating children and families on proper ways to prepare food and sanitize.

In order for this trip to be successful, we need to raise money not only for travel but for supplies. This includes a host of drugs and medications, as well as gauze and other tools for medicine. Moreover every patient is given a month's supply of vitamins. Ultimately to keep the goal of sustainability some of the money will also go towards maintaining a presence in the country and growing the capabilities of Global Brigades to provide help. I understand if you are unable to support this brigade, but if you are willing, please donate to this site by clicking on Donate to the right. Your money will help me and my team provide much needed care to many people.

Thank you,
Tom Presti

Be sure to select my name from the list of volunteers when donating!!